bbadshaw



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. S. S. BRADSHAW.

FOLDING BED.

No. 327,760. Patented 001:. 6, 1885.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. S. BRADSHAW.

FOLDING BED. No. 327,760. Patented 001;. 6, 1885.

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Urvrrnn STATES PATENT Orricn.

SILAS S. BRADSHAW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SAMUEL S. GHISHOLM, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 327,760, dated October 6, 1885 Application filed January 14, 1835. Serial No. 152,546. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SILAS S. BRADSHAW, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to cabinet-bedsteads of that class in which a sectional folding bed- :t'ramc is attached to an upright stat-ionary casing,and the two relatively constructed so that when the sectional bed-frame is closed or folded up the two members form a structure resembling a cabinet or other like piece of furniture.

Among the principal objects of the invention are, first, to construct and arrange the casing and the sectional bed-frame in such manner that when the bed-frame is folded up so as as to bring the body-section thereof into an upright position the head-section will lie at or near the bottom of the casing at an obtuse auglcto the upright body-section,whereby the mattress shall be but slightly bent ata point over the joint between the head and body sections; second, to provide a yielding or spring resistance to oppose the unfolding or straightening out of thesectional bed-frame, whereby the bed may be more readily folded and unfolded, as will hereinafter appear; third, to dispense with legs heretofore used in beds of the several construct-ions herein shown for supporting the foot'section when it is in an unfolded horizontal position, and at the same time to give a firm and rigid hinged connection between the foot and body sections.

To such ends the invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and claimed,and illustrated in the annexed drawings.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet-bedstead open. Fig. 2 is avertical section of the same closed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section thereof open. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the rear side of one-half of the same closed. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through a spring-mattress especially adapted for the form of cabinet-bedstead herein shown. Fig. (3 is a detail. section representing the body-section of the sectional folding bed-frame with the footsection turned up. Fig. 7 is a detail longitudinal section taken at one side of the sides or rails of the meeting end portions of the body and head sections, and illustrates in full and dotted lines the two extreme positions ofone of the counterbalancesprings.

The casing A comprises two sides, (1, extending somewhat above its front a, and a back, a, extending considerably above the two sides.

Of the three principal parts or sections of the folding bed-frame, the part B is the middle or body section, the part 0 the head-seetion, and the part D the foot-section. The body-section is the longest of the three sec: tions, and is hinged at one end to the top edge of the front a of the casing, at which point the casing serves to provide a fixed pivotal support for the body-seotion,so that when the body-section is raised or lowered it will turn about an axis stationary at the front of the casing, and situated at or about on a level with the top of a chamber which is formed by the four walls of the body portion of the casing. The head-section extends into and is adapted to the size of the space or chamher in the body of the casing, and is hinged to the hinged end of the body-section. The relative construction and arrangement of the casing and these two sections is such that when the body-section is swung out from the casing and lowered to a horizontal position it will cause the hGZLdSGOlJlOll to rise to the top of the chamber, where the head-section will lie in line with or in the plane of the bodysection, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and that when the body-section is swung up toward the casing the head-section will be swung down at its rear free end toward the bottom of the chamber in the casing, but will remain in line with the bodysection until just before the latter has reached its upright position, at which time the rear free end of the headsectiou will be arrest-ed by some suitable stop, so that the completion of the upward swing of the bodysection will cause the hinged end of the head section to drop slightly, thereby bringing the latter into the position shown in Fig. 2, in which it will be seen that the head-section lies at or near. the bottom of the' casing at an obtuse angle to the upright closed body-section. By this construction of the parts the mattress will be but slightly bent at apoint over the 5 joint between the head and body sections, and

its top will be more fully exposedto air circulating through the casing than in those instances in which the body-section slides down in the casing as it is fo' ded up, and the bed- IO section assumes aposition at an acute angle or nearly parallel with the upright body-section. The stops for checking the descent of the free end of the head-section when the said end has arrived at its lowest required position is, l 5 by preference, formed by a strap, I, arranged to connect the rear free end of the head-section with the back of the casing at or about the middle of the latter. This flexible connection is of a proper length to sustain the free end of the head-section when the said end is in its lowest required position, but to permit the headseetion to be freely swung up at its free end.

The bodysection is, as herein shown and preferably constructed, provided at its end adjacent, to the casing A with twosprings, B, one of which is desirably attached to the top edge of each side or rail of the body-section and arranged to extend back therefrom at the 0 sides of the headsection, so as to pass under and engage lugs or stops 0 upon the latter. When the head and body sections are in line with each other or in a horizontal position, the springs will be bent down at their free 3;, ends, as shown in full lines in Fig. 7, and when the two sections stand at an angle with each other, as shown in Fig. 2, the springs will be permitted to straighten out, as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 7.

It will be observed from the construction and location of the springs 13, above described, that the latter tend to bend or flex the joint between the parts or sections B and O of the bed, or, in other words, that said springs .1. 5 operate to resist the straightening out of the said sections. The springs are preferably made of such strength that they will be held in their bent or flexed position by the weight of the head-section 0 when the parts of the bed-frame are horizontal. As the bed-frame is lifted to an inclined position in folding the bed,however, apoint will obviously be reached at which the springs will be allowed to straighten and to thereby cause the part 0 to assume 5 an angular position with reference to the part B, owing to the fact that the downward press ure of the section 0 due to its gravity is lessened. as its center of gravity is brought nearer a vertical line passing through its pivotal (0 axis, while the force of the spring remains constant.

It is obvious that the weight of the part 0, when the latter is held in a bent or flexed position with reference to the part B,will, when the said part B is in an inclined position, tend to throw the latter upward, or,in other words, when the part 0 stands at an angle with the come straightened, as shown in Fig. 2.

part B the common center of gravity of the parts B and C will be farther inward from'the pivotal axis of the part 0 than when the parts are in alignment with each other. It will also be observed that after the outer end of the part B of the head-frame has been raised to a point at which the downward movement of the headsection O is arrested by the straps or stops -upon the casing A, and the weight of the said section 0 has no further effect to aid in the lifting of the body-section, the springs B will continue to act to throw the frame into its folded position until the said springs be- It is thus apparent that the springs act to aid in lilting the bed-frame during the upper part of its movement, and for a distance dependent upon the strength of the springs and the relative weights of the parts.

It will of course be understood that the part B is at alltimes counterbalanced to some extent by the weight of the part 0, and that the latter part may be made sufflciently heavy to enable the part B to be raised by a very slight upward pressure. When the part 0 is made sufficienty heavy to operate in this manner, the springs B may be adjusted to aid in the lifting of the part B at the upper portion of its movement, so that the bed-frame when started will practically close itself.

In addition to the improved effect obtained by the use of the springs B in aiding in the lifting of the body-section, said springs serve to make the movements of the parts, both in folding and unfolding the bed, smooth and even by preventing any sudden increase or decrease in the resistance of the parts--such, for instance, as would be caused in the absence of the springs by the abutting ends of the side rails of the head and body sections coming together in the downward movement of the body-section in unfolding the bed. \Vhen said springs are present, moreover, said springsin unfolding the body-section from its closed position, asshown in Fig. 2, will firstencounter the stops 0 and gradually become bent until they afford sufficient resistance to lift the headsection, and in the further downward movement of the body-section the head-section will be gradually raised, and the spring at the same time become gradually bent until the parts are nearly or quite horizontal, thus a1- lowing the said abutting ends of the parts B and O to come together easily and withoutjar.

Any other form of spring or springs applied between parts B and O and tending to flex or bend the joint between the latter will obviously produce the same result as the springs shown, and my invention, as it relates to the parts mentioned, is not therefore limited to any particular form of spring or springs.

I am aware that springs applied between a,

stationary casing and a folding bed-frame have been employed to aidin raising the latter. I do not therefore claim, broadly, a spring applied to aid in lifting a bed-frame; but myinvention, as far as it relates to parts last re- 'ferred to, is limited to a construction in which a spring or springs are applied between two hinged sections of the folding part of the bed frame, as set forth in the appended claims.

The foot-section comprises, as shown, two sides or rail-sections, d, a bottom, d, and a foot-board, (P, at one end thereof. This footsection is hinged at one end of its bottom to the free end of the bottom of the body-section by any ordinary hinges, as d, and is made of such width that when it is turned up independently of the body-section, as in Fig. 6, its hinged end shall be received and stand between the sides of the body'section. The footsection is also flexibly connected at its sides by links (1 with slides D, consisting of bars arranged to slide alongside the inner sides of the rails or sides I) of the body-section. The slide-bars are conveniently supported on cleats I), attached to the sides of the body-section, and are arranged so that when the foot'section is turned down the links shall serve to draw the outer ends of the slide-bars against the inner ends of the sides of the foot-section, so as to form abutting joints between the slide-bars and the foot-section. Suitable stops, N, are ararnged to arrest the forward movement of the slide-bars when the footsection has reached its required lowered position, as in Figs. 1 and 3, in which way the stops will, through the medium of the slide-bars and the links relieve the hinges d of the foot-section from strain, thus permitting the foot-section to be held securely in an extended position without the employment of legs, which have heretofore been usually adopted in folding bed'frames having a hinged foot section. When the foot-section is turned up, the slide bars will be pushed back by the links, as in Fig. 6, in which position the stops may be utilized to limit the back movement of the slide-bars, whereby the foot-section will be upheld and its hinges relieved from strain while the bedframe is in a folded condition with the bottom of the foot-section, constitut ing the top of a temporary cabinet or other like structure.

The stops are conveniently secured to the sides of the body-section, and received in slots d formed longitudinally in the slidebars, and in connection with such arrangement buttons 1) are attached to the stops so that by turning the buttons into a position parallel with the slots on the slide'bars the latter may be readily disengaged from the stops should occasion require.

The body-section principally comprises the two sides b and a paneled connection, If, between the sides, which said paneled connection forms a bottom for the body-section when the bedstead is open, and a front for the imitation cabinet or other article when the bedstead is closed or folded up. The body-section is provided with slats E, which are secured on cross-pieces b and arranged to lie on a level with a cross bottom piece, 0, of the headsection and the bottom (1 of the foot-section when the sectional bedstead is in an open or unfolded condition.

The mattress will be Supported on the slats of the body-section and the bottom portion of the other two sections, and will be folded at two points corresponding with the joints of the sectional bedstead when the latter is folded up or closed. A desirable construction of springmattress is illustrated in Fig. 5, which shows a section of spring-mattress in which the springs are arranged in three sets connected together by longitudinal flexible strips or straps,which are attached to the upper and lower ends of the springs, and adapted to extend the entire length of the mattress. The sets respectively correspond to the areas of the several bedstead-sections, while the portions of the flexible strips or straps serve to constitute hinges or flexible connections at points between the sets of springs. The top and bottom strips, f, are also preferably connected together by short strips f, situated at points adjacent to the sets of springs. The

mattress will also be provided at its ends with suitable hooks which can be connected with eyes f attached to the end piece of the head-section and to the foot-board of the footsection.

The back a of the casing includes two pan els, A, which are hinged to and hung vertically in the back of the casing, so as to be susceptible of being swung forward from the plane of the back in order to open the casing at the back and expose the mattress and bed ding to the air when the bedstead is closed or folded, and, furthermore, to permit theipanels to combine with the sides of the body and foot sections in a manner to form a complete representation of the sides of a cabinet or other like article.

The hinged panels are swung rearwardly and closed in the back by the act of opening or unfolding the bedstead, and are also swung forward during the operation of folding and closing the bedstead, whereby, by the automatic action of suitable cords connecting the said panels and the bed-frame during the operations of opening out and closing up the bedstead, the swinging panels will in the one instance close in the back to convert the latter into an appropriate head-board for the bedstead, and in the other instance swing forward and into the same plane with the side pieces, I), of the main section B, so as to form a flat side to the casing when the latter is closed or folded up.

In the particular form of the device herein shown,cords G, connected with the panels and with the lower cross-piece of the casing A and trained over suitable guide-pulleys, g and 9, upon the stationary casing A and head-section 0, are used to close the panels by the upward movement of the said head section in closing the bed, and cords G, attached to the panels and the head section and passing through eyes or pulleys upon the inner side walls of the casing A,are used for drawing the panels open.

I am aware that in folding beds it has been proposed heretofore to employ springs to throw panels in one direction and cords to draw said panels in the opposite direction against the action of the springs. The use of cords G and G, as shown, possesses advantages over this construction, however, for the reason that by their use the panels may be more accurately controlledas, for instance, in the use of springs, instead of the cords G, to throw open the panels, said panels will begin to swing outwardly as soon as the bed-frame is moved, so as to. slacken the cords G, and the panels may, therefore, strike upon the bed-clothing or other part. In the use of cords G for opening the panels, the said cords will preferably be arranged to hang slack when the bed is open, and they will not become taut so as to move the panels until the head-section has swung down entirely clear of the said panels.

The legs K are conveniently applied to the bodyseetion near the outer end thereof, and since the head and foot sections are to all intents rigidly supported from and by the bodysection when the sectional bedstead is horizontal and straightened out,but two legs will be required for the sectional bedstead. The legs are each hinged or pivoted at one end in any suitable way within a transverse recess in the body-section, and can be folded in said recess after the sectional bedstead has been closed. Y

To conceal the legs a lid, L, is preferably hinged to the body-section, so as to close the recess and cover the legs after the latter have been folded up. This lid can be provided with one or more ornamental knobs, and will represent a drawer when the bedstead is in a folded or closed condition.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the stationary casing of a folding bed, of a sectional bed-frame comprising a bodysection hinged at fixed points to the stationary casing, and a headsection hinged to the body-section, and a strap or straps, I, attached to the stationary casing and the headsection for limiting the downward movement of the latter, substantially as l and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the stationary cas ing of a folding bed, and a bed-frame comprising a body-section hinged to the casing, and a head-section hinged to the body-seetion, of a spring or springs applied to resist the unfolding or straightening out of said body and head sections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I i

3. The combination, with the stationary casing of a folding bed, of a bed-frame comprising a body-section hinged to'the casing and a head-section hinged to the body-section, and springs B, attached to the body-section and engaging the head-section, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with the body-section of a sectional folding bed-frame and a footsection hinged to the body-section, of slides upon the body-section flexibly connected with the foot-section, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the bodysection ofa sectional folding bed-frame, and afoot-sec tion hinged to the body-section, of slides upon the'body-section flexibly connected with the foot-section and adapted to abut at their ends against the side rails of the foot-section, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The'combination, with the body-section of a sectional folding bed-frame, and a foot-section hinged to the body section, of slotted slides D, stops (1 secured to the ends of the body section and entering the slots of the slides,and links (1", connecting the foot-section with the slides, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the stationary casing of a folding bed and a folding bed-frame, of hinged panels in the back of the casing,

cords G and G connectin the bed-frame with the panels, and suitable guide-pulleys for the said cords, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SILAS S. BRADSHAXV.

\Vitnesses: I

O. CLARENCE POOLE, OLIVER E. PAG-IN. 

